Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

Seeing Duan Zhengchun return safely, Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er were filled with relief, nodding approvingly as they listened to Duan Zhengchun recount what had happened on the road over the past few days.

Sitting not far away, Zhao Zhijing took the food that Lin Zhiyuan handed him, squinted and glared at Duan Zhengchun, then reluctantly threw the food behind a tree.

Originally, he came to the Western Regions with the team hoping to make great contributions and have a chance to compete with Duan Zhengchun for the chief disciple after returning to Zhongnan Mountain.

But after what happened along the way, he not only failed to outdo Duan Zhengchun, but watched Duan Zhengchun gradually become a hero in everyone's hearts!

Lu Qingdu, who was huddled to the side, secretly glanced at Zhao Zhijing, picked up the food that Zhao Zhijing had thrown away, and quietly stuffed it into his own arms.

After a short half-day rest, Duan Zhengchun, who had rejoined the team, once again became the one giving orders, leading the team to set off again towards the border.

...

Two days later.

When the westward-bound group reached Canglan Valley, they suddenly heard the sounds of fierce fighting coming from the valley ahead.

"Zhiyuan, go see what's happening up ahead!"

Duan Zhengchun immediately ordered the troops to stop, and then sent Lin Zhiyuan to investigate the situation.

Not long after, Lin Zhiyuan hurriedly returned.

"Who's fighting up there?!"

Liu Chuxuan lifted the carriage curtain to take a look and asked a question loudly.

In order to help Liu and Sun recover their skills as quickly as possible, Duan Zhengchun found another carriage for them in addition to the carriages used by the wounded.

"Reporting to Senior Uncle Liu and Senior Brother Yin, several Shaolin monks are being attacked by more than a dozen men in black. The situation is critical!"

Lin Zhiyuan clasped his hands in a fist salute and immediately answered loudly.

"People from Shaolin Temple?! What are they doing in the Western Regions?!"

Liu Chuxuan frowned, hesitated before getting off the carriage, and hurried towards the valley.

The others followed suit, eager to find out what was going on. The sudden appearance of Shaolin monks in the Western Regions was indeed quite unexpected.

In the valley, four monks were surrounded by more than a dozen assassins in black, and it looked like they were about to lose their grip.

One of the monks was holding a brocade box and could only fight back with one hand; he had already suffered multiple knife wounds.

"These men in black are ruthless; every move they make is aimed at killing. But why are these monks only defending?! Even if Shaolin Temple abstains from killing, they can't just hold back when they're about to die!"

Sun Bu'er frowned as he watched the two groups of people fighting in the valley, his emotions running high.

"No, it's not that they're unwilling to use their full strength, but rather that they're afraid to go all out, because the group of men in black aren't after their lives, but rather that brocade box!"

Duan Zhengchun squinted, pointed to the brocade box in the monk's arms, and said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked closely and then discovered the clue.

"It seems that there must be some treasure inside that brocade box!"

Liu Chuxuan added with a solemn expression.

“Zhiping, although Shaolin Temple has been quiet in the martial arts world for many years and does not often interact with various sects in the martial arts world, it still has quite a history with my Quanzhen Sect.”

"I think those four monks won't last much longer. Shall we go and help them?"

Sun Bu'er pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Duan Zhengchun.

It's unclear when it started, but even Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er, like the other disciples, prioritized Duan Zhengchun's orders throughout the journey.

This also reflects their recognition of Duan Zhengchun's abilities.

“I can go alone. You all should stay away for now. We still don’t know who those men in black are.”

Duan Zhengchun paused for a moment, casually tossed out a sentence, glanced meaningfully at Cui Zhifang behind him, and then leaped down the hillside.

In the valley, a black-clad assassin had just raised his knife, and while the monks were unable to defend themselves, he was about to slash at the monk who was holding the brocade box in his arms!

Just as the monk was about to die on the spot, a figure suddenly appeared, and with a sword's cry, the long sword shattered instantly!

Before the assassin could react, the broken sword in Duan Zhengchun's hand had already pierced his chest!

Immediately afterward, Duan Zhengchun didn't stop. In a few quick movements, two more assassins fell into pools of blood!

All of this happened so fast that three assassins were killed before they could even react!

The four monks were also stunned and stood there speechless, staring at the unfamiliar Duan Zhengchun.

Standing on the hillside, Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er watched in shock as Duan Zhengchun killed three people in an instant!

This wasn't the first time they had seen Duan Zhengchun make a move, so they weren't particularly surprised. However, they noticed almost simultaneously that Duan Zhengchun's swordsmanship seemed to have improved even more than it had been that night at the Vajra Sect!

"Who are you?! This matter is none of your concern, so I advise you not to interfere!"

The leader of the men in black frowned as he looked at Duan Zhengchun and said coldly, but his voice didn't sound very confident.

Holding the broken sword, Duan Zhengchun turned his head and stared intently at the man's eyes, which were visible through the black cloth, and said in a deep voice, "If you don't leave now, everyone will die!"

The leader narrowed his eyes, a hint of hesitation in them, and did not continue the conversation.

Perhaps because Duan Zhengchun had killed three of his companions as soon as he appeared, two of the assassins shifted their feet almost simultaneously, and the weapons in their hands trembled involuntarily.

However, because of this one action, Duan Zhengchun, who had been standing still, suddenly rushed out like lightning and flashed past the two of them in the blink of an eye!

Two streams of blood spurted out instantly, without a single scream, and the two men fell straight down! A thin sword wound appeared on their necks at the same time, with the same width and length!

Meanwhile, Duan Zhengchun had already returned to his previous position, as if he had never moved at all!

Seeing this, the other men in black dared not delay for even a moment. They glanced unwillingly at the brocade box in the monk's arms, then immediately turned and fled.

Duan Zhengchun did not pursue them because he was only there to save people, not to kill them.

"Thank you so much, young hero, for saving my life!"

Four monks slowly stepped forward, put their hands together in prayer, and said thank you in unison.

"It was nothing. If you want to thank someone, thank my senior uncles and aunts. They're the ones who asked me to help."

Duan Zhengchun slowly turned around, pointed to Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er who had already arrived with a group of disciples, and said calmly.

"Thank you all for your generosity."

The leader of the four monks clasped his hands together in gratitude and said something to everyone.

"It's nothing, no need for formalities. What brings people from your Shaolin Temple to the Central Plains? Has something happened? Who were those men in black just now?"

Liu Chuxuan clasped his hands in a fist salute and asked a question with a hesitant expression.

“You misunderstand, benefactor. We are from the Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions, not from the Central Plains.”

The leading monk shook his head and slowly said something.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er were surprised and exchanged glances. They hadn't expected that there was a Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions.

"I see. It seems I am ignorant. I did not expect there to be a Shaolin sect in the Western Regions."

"Who were the people who attacked you? And why were they so ruthless?"

Liu Chuxuan nodded and continued to ask.

The leading monk nodded slightly and said softly, "Although we belong to the Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions, we are also a branch of the Shaolin Temple in the Central Plains."

"As for that group of men in black, they are members of a heretical cult from the Western Regions, and they are followers of evil and heretical sects!"

Duan Zhengchun glanced at the brocade box held by the monk he had saved and slowly said, "The reason they attacked you was for the brocade box you had, wasn't it?"

Upon hearing this, the leading monk's expression changed slightly, and he gave Duan Zhengchun a wary look. The monk holding the brocade box also subconsciously took a step back and hugged the brocade box in his arms even tighter.

Duan Zhengchun pursed his lips, said nothing more, walked straight out of the crowd, examined the corpses of the three men in black, and then walked alone up the hillside.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave. We must hurry back to the temple to report back."

The leading monk clasped his hands together again, bowed, and said softly.

"Farewell."

Liu Chuxuan could tell that the other party was wary, so he clasped his hands in a fist salute and did not ask any further questions.

So the four monks turned and said goodbye, and quickly left.

Afterwards, Liu Chuxuan led his disciples back to the hillside and set off again for the Central Plains.

...